Welcome to WeldingWeb.com, the ultimate Source for Welding Information & Knowledge Sharing! Here you can join over 40,000 Welding Professionals & enthusiasts from around the world discussing all things related to Welding. You are currently viewing as a guest which gives you limited access to view discussions

To gain full access to our community you must register; for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:

Participate in over a dozen different forum sections and search/browse from nearly a million posts.

Post photos, respond to polls and access other special features
All this and much more is available to you absolutely free when you register; for an account, so join our community today today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact support.

How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

Since Im new I guess its fair for me to ask a simple question that keeps jumping out with different answers. Ive heard so many versions its sick, and figured there's gotta be a difinitive for the forum library.

What is the proper way to prepare/clean steel, aluminum, and SS prior to welding?

Re: How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

I wouldn't grind aluminum with a steel wheel. The abrasive in wheels for steel is aluminum oxide, just what you don't want in your aluminum.

Yeah, for the best weld on carbon steel, grind off the mill scale. The arc will be more inclined to go TO the base metal.

For stainless, one of those flap wheels work best for me.

It all depends on the project.

A mig with C 25 or 6010 stick will weld over the most sin, but its just that, a sin.

I have had guys tell me to weld right over the paint. I tell em I am not that good of a welder. The truth is I will end up with a crappy weld.

Rust, grease, OLD welds all have to go before doing the job right.

A carbon arc gouge or Arc Air works best for me removing old cracked, interrupted or just trashy welds and leaves a pretty good surface for a good weld. All I do is chip any slag that is left. Some times I trim with a grinder.

Re: How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

Aluminum cleaning/grinding/sanding/metal prep stuff on it's own.

Stainless cleaning/grinding/sanding/metal prep stuff on it's own.

And yet another set for mild steel. I would personally keep two additional sets for mild steel, 1) for the dirty work on dirty metal (rusty stuff, repairs, fences, etc) and 2) for the nice DOM tubing work like gates, soapbox racers, etc.

Re: How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

Great information guys. I just knew that there was more to it than rags and combustables! Anything else?
BTW: Ive been absolutely amazed at the difference in my work with and without cleaning. Also helps with the learning curve since there seems to be a slightly different "feel". Maybe that's just me, but since I like to do a job the correct way it makes me feel better knowing that there's one more step to the ritual.

Re: How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

do you guys clean everything you weld?? If i cleaned things i probably would enjoy welding as much, do you clean all types of metals for all types of welding? Im curious about this, tell me more, Where can i buy acetone? Does it come in big bottles?

Re: How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

Originally Posted by lodogg89

do you guys clean everything you weld?? If i cleaned things i probably would enjoy welding as much, do you clean all types of metals for all types of welding? Im curious about this, tell me more, Where can i buy acetone? Does it come in big bottles?

You can get Acetone at any hardware store (ie: Freddy's, Home Depot, Lowes, auto stores, and/or any paint shop). Usually comes in 1 litre and 1 gallon cans.

Re: How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

Originally Posted by lodogg89

do you guys clean everything you weld?? If i cleaned things i probably would enjoy welding as much, do you clean all types of metals for all types of welding? Im curious about this, tell me more, Where can i buy acetone? Does it come in big bottles?

Re: How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

REMEMBER:
dont store the rags in a "pile" as the schtuff is EXTREMELY flamable and is known to spontaneously combust! Let it "air out" away from your work area and open the rag up so it can off gas quickly.
LASTLY:
Dont try to weld your can of acetone to your project.

Re: How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

ofcourse were not done with this thread, i havent learend enough yet. Okay, i bought a gallon of acetone, and stainless wirebrush, i will test this out and see how it works, maybe post a before and after pic of my work, no making fun though, im new at this.

Re: How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

Originally Posted by zapster

I'm a pro...are you?
and there is many here that will agree with me..
This is what seperates "us" from "them"

...zap!

I am "them" most of the time at work because that's what they want You can only argue a point so much and in the end they are the boss. I do actually clean my stuff more than any of the other people though. But when I'm doing work for myself and others I do it right

Re: How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

What we need are hugs...who's gonna start?

I can think of numerous excuses to do a quality job, but cant think of many to do a lousy job. Its true that there are many jobs out there that are of the mode of "get it stuck together", but I dont consider that welding.

I dont know if alcohol would strip oils like acetone does. Anyone with other ideas as to how to clean metals for welding?

Re: How to "clean" or "prepare" metal

I dont know if alcohol would strip oils like acetone does. Anyone with other ideas as to how to clean metals for welding?

Everything has it's goods and bads. Isopropyl is good I guess. I only keep a bit of that in the shop. It evaporates so fast it's not much goof for heavy removals. It's best for what it is intended for, topical skin treatment.

I keep a gallon or so of denatured alcohol, usualy methyl, around. It won't harm most plastics so that's a plus, but one oddity is it doesn't blend well with deisel and/or kerosene. If it doesn't blend well I assume it won't clean much better.

I generally use a lot of the laquer grade thinner/solvent. It is generally a mix of around three of your favorites so works well for a host of tasks. It will harm many plastics so some caution is required. It's evaporation rate is a little less than acetone and many alcohols.

Another usefull cleaner is ordinary de-oderized mineral spirits (paint thinner also). It's cheap, evaporates slow and it will blend and solve most any oils and greases as well as pitch. Plus it isn't as harsh on the hands and has a much higher flash point than the other options. I use it often as a first assault on heavy oil and grime. Then follow up with laquer thinner as needed. This combination also works well for cleanup before and after painting too.

If nothing else cuts it I dig out the acetone. It evaporates so fast you gotta be quick.